Coeur d’Alene Lake

With its breathtaking views, abundant fish and wildlife habitat, and vast recreational opportunities, the Coeur d’Alene region is a popular destination for people worldwide. At the heart of it lies Our Gem, Coeur d’Alene Lake. With popularity comes increased development. One person alone is probably not a significant source of pollution.

However, the cumulative effect of hundreds of thousands of people that live, work and play in our region can have a substantial impact on water quality. It is in all our hands to be good stewards of the land and maintain the good water quality we enjoy. If you live in the Coeur d’Alene Basin there are a lot of ways you can reduce your impact on water quality.

Water quality is a shared responsibility. We rely on our entire community to address nonpoint source pollution (the kind that accumulates across the landscape).

Consider that roughly 3,700 square miles of land area that ultimately drains into Coeur d’Alene Lake. This includes all the land bound by Lookout Pass and beyond Avery, in the St. Joe River Valley, to the east, into Washington on the west, Clarkia on the south, and Bunco Road on the north. All the precipitation that falls within these borders eventually flows to the lake, potentially carrying pollution with it. Examples of these pollutants are oils and metals from cars, litter, sediment, and nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizers). You can begin to understand how all that happens in that landscape can have profound effects on water quality in the lake.

While this may seem overwhelming, there is a toolbox for our community that provides simple ideas for protecting Coeur d’Alene Lake. LakeASyst, Lakeshore Assessment System A Landowners Guide to Protecting Water Quality

The Coeur d’Alene LakeASyst is a tool for local landowners. LakeASyst for the Coeur d’Alene Basin was developed by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Lake Management Teams. The manual consists of 11 sections, each addressing a specific topic related to nonpoint sources of pollution. Topics include lawn and garden management, new construction, and household wastewater treatment. Each section contains information related to the topic, a self-assessment, and a resource directory to connect you with more information and professionals that can help. The manual provides a simple reference on ways of minimizing impacts of a variety of activities. View guide at: https://www.cdatribe-nsn.gov/lake/wp-content/ uploads/sites/7/2020/03/CDABasinLakeASyst2013s.pdf

The Future of Lake Health and Water Quality

The Our Gem Coeur d’Alene Lake Collaborative is a team of committed and passionate professionals working to preserve lake health and protect water quality by promoting community awareness of local water resources through education, outreach and stewardship. Our Gem includes local experts from the University of Idaho Community Water Resource Center, Coeur d’Alene Tribe Lake Management Department, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Kootenai Environmental Alliance, Kootenai County, Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber and CDA 2030.

Coeur d’Alene Lake Study

A study is currently underway to analyze the future of water quality in Coeur d’Alene Lake. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and Kootenai County contracted the National Academy of Sciences to conduct the assessment, expected to be complete by summer 2022. The study is endorsed by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the Our Gem Collaborative.

www.uidaho.edu/OurGem